Page 68 of The Rebel
“We should call her now, pre warn her,” I suggested.
“You think so?” Jade was sceptical. “What if she disappears?”
“You said your Mom is struggling. Do you think she really wants to fix things?”
“Yes! But she’s stubborn and hurt and sad.”
“Then we call her first. Otherwise she’ll think you’ve thrown her to the lions. This way she can prepare herself,” I said.
Jade steadied himself as he put through a video call, taking in a deep breath as his Mom answered the phone.
“Mom, are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m okay. Are you okay?”
“I’m sorry I stormed out on you,” Jade said, and he moved the phone camera to include me. “I’m with Valencia.”
I smiled and mouthed a hi and fluttered my fingers. Dani blinked in surprise, but smiled as if she was pleased he wasn’t on his own.
“Mom.” Jade paused and I squeezed his leg. “Mom, Valencia and I are in Rosemont.” Dani’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but Jade spoke with calm and control. “I’m bringing Gramma and Pops back. We’re going to talk things out.” Dani’s eyes flared and her mouth twitched, but Jade carried on, “We’re just leaving now...is that okay?”
Being put on the spot can’t have been easy for Dani, and I wondered if it helped Jade to have me by his side, that Dani was less likely to argue with me right there.
“Jade...” Dani’s protest was weak as she shook her head in a defeatist way.
“It’ll be all right, Mom,” Jade promised, his eyes misty.
Dani nodded and Jade ended the call. He took my hand and said, “Thanks.”
“For what?” I asked.
“For being here.” His face was close, so close, his eyes hopeful that this would work out.
“You’re welcome,” I said, suddenly in awe and strongly attracted to his full, pink lips. It felt like a moment to celebrate and I leaned forward, or maybe he did, because only millimeters separated us. My heart thumped in anticipation, but in the next instant the garage door was opening and a sleek Aston Martin drove out. Pops tooted his horn, and Jade pulled back and waved to his grandparents. And placed both his hands on the steering wheel.
My heart flipped, and just as I thought the moment had gone, Jade murmured, “Probably not a good idea.” His lips twitched and his cheeks flushed pink. “You know, with you staying with us and all.”
My heart and lungs were in a state of dysfunction, my heart over-beating and my lungs under-breathing, a calamitous combination. And though I didn’t like what he’d said, he was right.
“Totally agree,” I said with a burst of false confidence. I understood where Jade was coming from and my parents would have a heart attack if they knew there was something between us. In a blink of an eye they’d have me staying in the boarding school. Bizarrely, I wasn’t even a little bit sad—you see Jade wanted to kiss me as much as I wanted to kiss him.
And somehow that was enough.
As he drove off, I bent down and grabbed my phone out of my bag. There were a bunch of messages but it was the one from Dad I was most excited to read—Paris’s latest result.
But the news was not what I was expecting, and covering my hand over my mouth, I gasped in dismay. My blood seemed to drain away as I read the text:Paris lost 7-5, 7-5 in his qualifying round, won’t make the main singles draw.
“Everything okay?” Jade asked, glancing across with a look of concern.
I needed to downplay it, even though my heart was thundering in my chest—Jade had more urgent issues to deal with than my brother’s tennis loss.
“Oh yeah, just remembered the date of my art submissions,” I said, wincing. “Better get onto it when we get back.”
“That’s my fault,” Jade said, “I’ve messed up your study.”
“Oh no. Absolutely not,” I said, having to backtrack. “I’ve basically finished.” Today I’d planned on doing a series of sketches, but now I’d have to submit the drawings I’d done of Paris instead.
“Maybe I can sweet talk Miss Creighton for an extension,” Jade offered.
